diff --git a/externals/Makefile b/externals/Makefile
index 2e9bcf10c9afeff8a6351ae91e4467a62917b70c..ed1f995094d4f0aea7569cb245a2619797ba694e 100644
--- a/externals/Makefile
+++ b/externals/Makefile
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ flatgui_clean:
 # FLEXT and FLEXT externals
 flext:
 	cd $(externals_src)/grill/trunk/flext && \
-	./bootstrap.sh && \
+	./bootstrap.sh || ./bootstrap.sh && \
 	./build.sh pd gcc build && \
 	./build.sh pd gcc build && \
 	./build.sh pd gcc build && \